Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-01-18
CHAPTER VIII.

CHAPlEh WILL
] HOW SOME ONE SEIZED A CHANCE
I "Mr. Beaufort" said Mrs. Redeem,
sgraciously, would you mind stepping on
with my daughter? I'll follow directly.
III first slip on my seal skin and hat
+. She allowed Triptolema to 90 most OF
fthe way with the stranger. Trip looked
scharming: her color was heightened. Her
smother's words had kindled her fancy:
The gentleman at her side was good
looking, faultlessly dressed, polished IN
manners. presumably rich-he talked OF
Beaufort court which he was rebuilding,
and man cannot build without money
certainly well born. He had duke IN
his family. That was better than
Bart. Trip put on her best graces; and
when Trip wanted to be gracious she
was irresistible.
Mr.. Beaufort chatted pleasantly, adj
mired everything, had flattering remarks
to make to his companion, with whom
he was really struck.
Ringwood house was of red brick,
large stately mansion, with long Win
dows, plaster quoins, plaster cornices
and vases and balusttades, which looked
well with the old red brick.
Mrs Redfcrn came up with her daugh-
the back door.
Dear mcr' said the gentleman, "this
strikes me rs the perfect ideal of q house.
If the interior arrangements arc equal to
tho exterior perfection shall take no
ton or two away with me. For my part,
| like neither comfort sacrificed to archl-
tectural design nor architectural beauty
neglected for internal comfort. | shall
be most interested to see over this house"
The housekeeepr, Mrs. Podgings, was
accommodating. She liked to have
chat with Mrs. Redfcrn. The butler was
gracious; he had liking indeed an UNI
bounded admiration for Trip, and vowed
he only wished he were ten years
younger to make her Mrs. Thomson.
Whereat Trip was wont to toss her pretty
head.
The gentleman was invited along with
the ladies into the buffers private room.
He must insist on their Ill returning
there after having been over the house
and inspected the pictures. He trusted
a light rejection there would be accept
able all around.
So Mrs. and Miss Redfern and Mr..
Beaufort started on their round, con-
Quoted by Mrs. Podgings. Fortunately
the family were out, the house was &C
cessible in all parts. Mrs. Redfern was
anxious to see all the old rooms again
she had known so well, and take Mrs.
Podgings' attention while the young
people talked together Mr.. Beaufort
was enchanted with everything. He adj
mired the paintings, the porcelain, the
glass, the curtains, carpets, furniture
everything was in admirable taste, and
most expensive.
But what fascinated him more even
than the pictures and china was the per-
feet arrangement of the house-so COM
pact, so comfortable. He must ask per-
mission to be allowed to make q few
rough sketch plans in his pocketbook for
his information and guidance in the
erection of Beaufort court, Gloucester
shire. The permission was ut once nc
corded him, and, pencil in hand, lie drew
plans, and was too engrossed in them to
say much to Trip.
AT last when all had been seea the party
returned to the buffers room, where he
had for them a bottle of dry Sillery.
Some had been drunk ut dinner the even
ing before, and bottle had been re-
served by the butler for his own particu-
lar friends.
'Mr. Thomson" said Trip, putting on
her most coqucttish manner, "might Mr..
Beaufort have a sight of the silver wheel
barrow
Barrow? Certainly" answered the
butler. "Anything you ask, miss, must
be complied with" Then, explanatory
to the visitor, you see, sir, Tottenham
began life with a whcelbarrow, some
fifty years Ggonc, and as an occasion of
telling the story, and showing how clever
n man he has been, he has had two
dozen little silver wheelbarrows made
holding glass salt cellars; q salt cellar to
each guest, you understand Alta dinner
party Tottenham never fails to tell the
story apropos of the cellars He's had
on the sides an inscription. 'Propera,'
which, take it, means Shove along"
81 don't think it, interrupted Mrs.
Redfern, Though I'm sorry to differ
from you, Mr., Thomson. How Pro
pera' can mean shove along, beats me.
I see clear enough what it signifies.
Proper a means a one, and Mr. Totem
ham mems that whatever he has, from
his pictures, his plate, down to his din
ner and salt, is a one, and nothing that
isn't A one will suit him"
at may be, Mrs, Eedfcrn," said the
butler, blandly. but | take it the Ian
guage is Latin. However this is inter-
particularly like Tottenham's boasting of
his small beginnings; SEE is more high in
her notions and she always saws an
aside to the chief gent that took her in.
What Tottcnham says must be taken,
like the barrow, with salt He was a
younger son, and the bulk of the property
went to the eldest II ecame off only
with the barrow. That is what comes Of
our laws of primogeniture, which in a
civilized and Christian land ought to
be done away with
"And so they ought" threw in Mrs.
Redfern, because l don't understand
nothing about them"
but" continued the butler. "about
that Inscription on the barrows. | know
that Tottenham did not comb It out of his
head. He asked the rector, who is an
Oxford scholar, to help him. Propera is
what it is. Now, Mr.. Beaufort. you can
help US to the meaning shove along
do seem rather vulgar. What does it
meant
Sir said Mr.. Beaufort, graciously,
"till | see the plate itself can hardly de-
eide between You and Mrs. Redeem.
The letters may be Greek or even He
brew. Suppose You allow me to look at
them
Certainly, sir said the butler, rising
and taking his KEYS